How to Reduce Allergens in Your Home
Follow these room-by-room cleaning tips for an allergy -friendly home.
Tips for Cleaning the Bedroom and Living Room
We spend approximately one-third of our lives asleep and clock a lot of time on the couch. Unfortunately, bedding, furniture, carpet and even household items can accumulate allergens and impact relaxation. To enjoy your bedroom and living room and help keep allergens under control, try these cleaning tips.
- Use allergen -barrier bedding and zippered dust mite covers on all pillows, mattresses and box springs. Consider washable slipcovers for upholstered furniture.
- Reduce clutter by removing and donating unused items that collect dust, like books, knickknacks, large houseplants and unworn clothes.
- Wash your pet’s bed and pay special attention to their favorite spots to curl up. For example, clean window sills if that’s where your cat likes to perch.
- Put stuffed animals in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to help reduce dust mites .
- Wash off-season clothes to remove allergens before storing them. Cardboard holds moisture and is a food source for mold , so store clothes in zippered bags or plastic tubs.
- Wash pillowcases, sheets and blankets in 130°F water every week to help reduce dust mites and pet dander.
- Use a damp cloth to clean all surfaces regularly. Don’t use a dry cloth or feather duster because they can stir up dust mites .
- Vacuum carpet and upholstery weekly. And be sure to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap allergens that can pass through the vacuum’s exhaust.
- Ban the family pet from the bedroom to help reduce your exposure to pet dander as much as possible.
Bathroom Cleaning
Mold spores thrive in warm, damp spaces like bathrooms. To help reduce these annoying allergens, follow these quick tips.
- Scrub any visible mold with a cleaning solution made specifically for mold removal and dry the surface completely.
- Scour away soap scum that can build up on tiles and shower doors. It serves as a breeding ground for mold .
- Check and fix leaky pipes under the sink, in the shower and tub, and behind the toilet.
- Regularly launder shower curtains, bath mats and other cloth items in the bathroom that hold moisture and feed mold .
- Replace caulk around tubs and sinks as soon as it starts to discolor or peel away from the wall. Use a mold -resistant caulk when caulking.
- Wipe away puddles of water right away on sinks, counters, windowsills and other surfaces.
- Keep window curtains open to let sunlight in, as mold prefers dark spaces.
Keeping the Laundry Room Clean
The heat and humidity that laundry rooms produce offer a prime place for mold spores to grow. Follow these simple tips to keep mold in check.
- If you have a front-loading washing machine, check for mold growth and clean the rubber seal and inside of the door.
- Make sure your clothes dryer is venting properly outside your home to prevent humidity that can increase mold and dust mites .
- Remove clothes from the washing machine right away and leave the door open when not in use to help reduce moisture and mold buildup.
- Monitor the humidity level in the laundry room using a hygrometer, which you can find at most hardware stores. Aim to keep the humidity below 50 percent with ventilation or a dehumidifier.
- Clean behind and under washers and dryers where dust and moisture build up
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REFERENCES
Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. Accessed March 24, 2020.
Dust mite allergy. Accessed April 1, 2020.